Wuthering Heights fans have slammed Emerald Fennell’s upcoming adaptation of the classic, criticising her “bizarre” and “terrible” casting of Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, and claiming the director “hasn’t read” Emily Brontë’s novel.
Many have taken to social media to express their anger at the decision to use two stars who “look like they came straight from Instagram” in a film set in the 19th century.
Others were also puzzled by the fact that Catherine, who is around 19 in the book, is played by 34-year-old Margot, while Heathcliff, who is around 40 at the end of the novel, is played by 27-year-old Jacob.
Elsewhere, social media criticised the “whitewashing” of the romantic lead, with Heathcliff often described as “dark-skinned” and subject to “racist abuse”.
“Guys I can ONLY assume Emerald Fennell isn’t actually adapting Wuthering Heights she’s just using it as inspiration and is loosely based on it and the only similarities are the character names and it’s set in this time period and it’s a completely different story right?” one joked.
Wuthering Heights fans have slammed Emerald Fennell’s upcoming adaptation of the classic, criticising its “bizarre” and “terrible” casting choice. Emerald pictured in January
Another wrote: ‘This is truly the worst casting I’ve ever received. I’m amazed at how Emerald Fennell is committed to never serving.’
A third joked: “I can’t wait to hear those distinctive Yorkshire accents!”
Elsewhere, a comment asked for “new actors, please.”
Today, news broke that Margot and Jacob will play the lead roles in the Emerald adaptation. by Deadline.
Margot’s LuckyChap company will produce the film. LuckyChap also produced two other Emerald films: Saltburn and Promising Young Woman.
The film is currently in pre-production and will shoot in the UK next year.
Plot details have not yet been revealed.
Margot and Jacob know each other well, as they star in the new short film, See You at 5, directed by Call Me by Your Name’s Luca Guadagnino, for the new Chanel No. 5 campaign.
Many have taken to social media to express their anger at the decision to use two stars who “look like they belong on Instagram” in a film set in the 19th century. Jacob pictured earlier this year
Others were also puzzled by the fact that Catherine, who is the eldest in the book, is around 19, and is played by 34-year-old Margot (pictured in March).
Deadline broke the news today that Margot and Jacob will play the lead roles in the Emerald adaptation.
Elsewhere, social media criticised the “whitewashing” of the romantic lead, with Heathcliff often described as “dark-skinned” and subject to “racist abuse”.
Margot recently gushed about him in a new interview with Harper’s Bazaarsaying: “It’s wonderful. And like you said, I worked with him on Saltburn as a producer and an actor. So I haven’t shared the screen with him before, but I know I’ve seen him on set, I’ve been around him on set, and he’s just… he’s got an incredible presence.”
“He’s a movie star, he’s got charisma. He’s got a commanding bearing. He’s also very charming and he’s from the same state as me in Australia. We’re an hour away from each other, but he’s from Brisbane and I’m from the Gold Coast.”
‘Even though the point of our film is that our paths cross and we miss each other, it still feels like we did the campaign together.’
Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, published in 1850, is considered a masterpiece of English literature.
The original story focuses on the Earnshaws, the Lintons, and their turbulent relationship with Heathcliff, an adopted son of the Earnshaws.
Heathcliff is one of the most infamous and complex romantic heroes in Western literature, known for his melancholic nature and his obsession with Cathy.
There have been numerous film adaptations of the book over the years, perhaps the best known being the 1939 version directed by William Wyler and starring Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier.
There have been numerous film adaptations of the book over the years, perhaps the best known being the 1939 version directed by William Wyler and starring Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier (pictured).
The most recent adaptation is Andrea Arnold’s 2011 film, starring Kaya Scodelario and James Howson.
Margot recently starred in the hit film Barbie, which grossed more than $1.4 billion worldwide and earned eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.
Her next project is Kogonada’s A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, scheduled for release in May.
The Australian actress is currently expecting the arrival of her first child with husband Tom Ackerley, 34.
She and her film producing partner also announced last week that they were producing The Sims movie.
Margot and Tom are producing through their company LuckyChap Productions.
Like Barbie, The Sims has its roots in an iconic franchise, whose first video game debuted in 2000 and has since sold over 200 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time.
The star has continued to work throughout her pregnancy.
Meanwhile, Jacob recently portrayed the iconic Elvis Presley in Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla.
He will also star in Justin Kurzell’s The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein.
